Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne

Chapter 606: Chapter 306: Little Ungrateful_3

He Lianfang heard up to this point and finally understood what Zhao Yao was grappling with.

"Are you afraid to get close to your father, the Emperor?"

Zhao Yao first nodded, then shook his head.

He Lianfang was confused by Zhao Yao and asked impatiently, "So are you, or are you not?"

"Second Uncle, it’s not a matter of daring or not daring," Zhao Yao said, scratching his head in embarrassment. "I’ve never been close to my father since I was young. To suddenly try to be close to him—it’s something I can’t do, and it’s really awkward."

He Lianfang had never seen how Zhao Yao interacted with the Emperor. However, hearing Zhao Yao speak like this, he somewhat understood his point.

"In the end, you’re still afraid to get close."

Zhao Yao heard this, froze slightly, then shrugged his shoulders, saying, "Maybe, but I’m not afraid of my father. It’s just difficult to speak freely with him, as I do with you, Second Uncle. I just find it strange." He knew well that his father cared for him, but he couldn’t interact with his father as intimately and earnestly as with his Second Uncle. "Honestly, I’d rather my father ignore me, like I used to think."

Inwardly, He Lianfang mocked the Emperor. He must convey these words to the Emperor.

"So you could say, my son appears quite ungrateful." Yet he truly found it odd.

He Lianfang gave Zhao Yao a deep look, then pointedly said, "You’re afraid, afraid that your father’s affection is false, afraid that his care for you is temporary, and you’re scared that after you get close to him, he’ll no longer be close to you. So you would rather he never showed you favor at all."

"Is it like that?" Zhao Yao had never thought of it this way.

"You say you don’t care if your father dotes on you, but is that true? As a child, didn’t you ever wonder why your father didn’t show you affection? Didn’t you ever wish to receive your father’s favor like Prince Dai does?"

Cornered by these questions, Zhao Yao paused for a moment before saying, "Perhaps I thought about it." Yet, he couldn’t recall it. The memory of another had clouded his mind after a serious illness, obscuring the events before it.

"You’re also scared because your father is the Emperor," He Lianfang stated. "Serving the Emperor is like serving a tiger, so you dare not get close to him."

"Is that so?" Zhao Yao thought about it and felt there was some truth in He Lianfang’s words.

Internally, He Lianfang sighed: He never expected this child to be so guarded.

"There’s nothing wrong with thinking like that."

"Then, am I right to think this way?" Zhao Yao hadn’t shared these thoughts with Lady Liang.

"You are." He Lianfang said with a smile, "Continue treating your father as you have; no need to change your attitude on purpose."

Zhao Yao felt He Lianfang made sense, but something also felt off.

"Second Uncle, is it really okay for me to treat my father like this?" He feared being ungrateful.

"Very much so," He Lianfang advised Zhao Yao, "You must understand one thing: your father is first the Emperor of the Great Zhou and then your father. Even if you become close, not everything should be shared with him."

Zhao Yao partially understood, yet some parts eluded him. However, he conceded that his Second Uncle was right.

"I see." He decided he should continue as before, with no need to seek closeness to his father or approach him with questions.

"If you dare not get close to your father, why are you bold enough to be close to me?" He Lianfang considered himself far from friendly; most people feared him, rarely daring to approach.

"Well, I find you approachable, Second Uncle."

"Approachable?" He Lianfang never thought he’d hear someone say that he looked approachable.

Zhao Yao grinned, "To me, you’re approachable, Second Uncle, and I can’t help but want to be close."

His words stirred He Lianfang’s memories. He recalled that the first time he met his lord, the lord remarked, "This child looks approachable and destined to be connected with me."

"I’m not approachable."

Zhao Yao nodded in agreement, "You’re certainly not approachable to others, Second Uncle."

He Lianfang wished to drop the subject of being approachable and shifted topics to discuss matters concerning Marquis Jingyang’s Mansion.

In recent days, Marquis Jingyang’s Mansion had suffered greatly. When the mighty tiger falls to the plains, the dogs dare to bully. The mansion was bullied terribly.

Though the guests of Marquis Jingyang had skills, no one listened to the eldest illegitimate son. Furthermore, even when he spoke, others didn’t heed him.

The eldest illegitimate son wielded no authority in Marquis Jingyang’s Mansion and couldn’t keep others in line. Besides being oppressed by other noble families, internal strife exploded among their clans. Other illegitimate children sought to seize power, and the collateral branch shared the same intent.

Mid-conversation, the steward entered and handed a note to He Lianfang.

He Lianfang scanned it, furrowed his brows, and said, "The confidant favored by Marquis Jingyang has been expelled from the mansion."

"What, expelled from Marquis Jingyang’s Mansion?"

He Lianfang remarked meaningfully, "The eldest illegitimate son is ill, leaving the mansion under the control of the fourth son."

"Not surprising." The eldest illegitimate son of Marquis Jingyang’s Mansion didn’t command respect, so it’s no wonder others challenged him, wanting to replace him. "Looks like quite a drama unfolded at Marquis Jingyang’s Mansion today." He wondered whether their eighth brother had found evidence of the mansion’s collusion with the Xiongnu.

After chatting further with He Lianfang, Zhao Yao finally left.

Once Zhao Yao departed, He Lianfang promptly conveyed the conversation to the Emperor, mocking him fiercely.

The Emperor looked and exclaimed, scolding Zhao Yao as an "ungrateful wretch."

"Your Majesty, what has the Tenth Highness done to make you so angry?"

"That brat told He Lianfang he would rather I didn’t care for him." The Emperor was both angry and aggrieved.

"That’s impossible! The Tenth Highness couldn’t have said such a thing; it must be someone stirring up trouble."

"It must be," the Emperor gritted his teeth, "I’ll confront him at once."

Seeing the Emperor appear before him, He Lianfang wasn’t surprised in the least and laughed heartily at him.